IMPORTANT NOTE: These are the archived stories for Belmont News & Achievements prior to June 26, 2023. To see current stories, click here.

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Belmont Graduates Take Their Skills on Tour with Thomas Rhett

Staff Writer
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Belmont Graduates Take Their Skills on Tour with Thomas Rhett

“From here to anywhere…”

For Belmont students, this can mean all sorts of things. For a special group of dedicated Belmont alumni, this has come to mean traveling the US alongside Thomas Rhett’s fall arena tour, using their skills and abilities learned from their time on campus on the road. Rhett’s audio crew included five Belmont alumni, while other alumni also worked on different areas of the show.

The audio team included Chris Clark, Jeremy White, Trey Smith, Ashley Burns and Shawn Eacott. Each served a different purpose on the tour, yet all worked together to make Rhett’s show sound its best.

Clark, who graduated from Belmont in 2014 with a degree in audio engineering technology, served as the front-of-house systems engineer and the audio crew chief. He said that his time at Belmont was helpful in getting him to where he is now, because it allowed him to get connected in Nashville and practice the things he learned in class.

“My most memorable moments on campus were working in the Curb Event Center and working showcases with fellow classmates who are now out working with me on the Thomas Rhett tour,” said Clark. He also noted that Adjunct Lecturer Scott Munsell has worked hard to make the live sound program what it is today. “Scott has added many classes to this program as well as increased the curriculum with many important and industry related topics,” he said.

For Belmont students, the opportunity to take part in Curb Event Center showcases provides meaningful real world practice. Eacott agreed, saying that his experience working the showcases was a stand out from his time at Belmont.

Eacott served as Rhett’s PA tech on tour and graduated from Belmont in 2017 with a degree in audio engineering technology. When looking back at his time at Belmont, Eacott said that the thing that prepared him most for where he is today was his time spent working in the Massey Performing Arts Center under Rusty King.

“There were so many valuable things I learned from that hands-on experience,” he said. “I was in a place where it was okay to make mistakes and learn from them, and that helped me grow tremendously.” He also said that King was a great role model for him and other students and shaped him into the professional he is today.

Other Belmont graduates on the Thomas Rhett tour included Lighting Crew Chief Greg Ogne, Lighting Tech Keaton Lovell, Drum/Bass Tech Justin Meeks and Production Manager Kevin Twist.

Harold Bradley Endowed Scholarship Established at Belmont University

Hope Buckner
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Harold Bradley Endowed Scholarship Established at Belmont University

Special event held earlier today to ‘mark the moment’

Created to honor Harold Bradley, a legendary session artist who has played on thousands of songs and is known to be the most widely recorded guitarist in history, Belmont University announced the creation of the Harold Bradley Endowed Scholarship at an event held on campus earlier this afternoon. Harold and his brother Owen were key architects of the Nashville sound and style of recording, helping to build a recording industry and lay the foundation for Music City.

The scholarship, funded by two anonymous donors, will be awarded to freshman guitar students in Belmont’s College of Visual and Performing Arts through their graduation.

Senior Director of Development and External Relations Debbie Sprang said, “We are so grateful to these donors for their generosity, and we look forward to honoring Mr. Bradley’s extensive legacy through this scholarship.”

The announcement was held at Belmont’s Gallery of Iconic Guitars (GIG) and included a guitar performance by three Belmont students. Attendees included Bradley’s family, a number of his close friends and College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Dr. Stephen Eaves and faculty members.

Dean Eaves said, “This generous gift will not only honor Mr. Bradley, but it will provide meaningful support for the next generation of guitarists. I know students will be thrilled to receive this scholarship and be motivated to aspire to the legacy of Harold Bradley.”

Morse Published in Psychology Outlets

Hope Buckner
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Morse Published in Psychology Outlets

Dr. Patrick Morse, assistant professor of psychology, has three publications in press with psychology majors as co-authors. The psychology majors are Sielo Coleman, Rachel Holloway and Cille Taylor. Additionally, Morse has published a chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Psychological Situations. Below are details of these publications.

  • Coleman, S. & Morse, P. J. (In Press). Exogamy. V. Zeigler-Hill & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of personality and individual differences. Springer International Publishing.
  • Holloway, R. & Morse, P. J. (In Press). Social Intelligence. V. Zeigler-Hill & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of personality and individual differences. Springer International Publishing.
  • Taylor, C. & Morse, P. J. (In Press). Trait-Situation Interaction. V. Zeigler-Hill & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of personality and individual differences. Springer International Publishing.
  • Morse, P. J., & Sweeny, K. (2017). Medical Situations. D. Funder, J. Rauthmann, & R. Sherman (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of psychological situations. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Neuroscience Major Receives Funds for Honors Thesis Research

Hope Buckner
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Neuroscience Major Receives Funds for Honors Thesis Research

Karina Glushchak, a junior honors student and neuroscience major, was awarded a Fall Undergraduate Research Grant of $1,500 from Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, along with faculty sponsor Dr. Timothy Schoenfeld, assistant professor of psychology. The grant will fund Glushchak’s honor thesis research to be conducted over the next two semesters.

The project, entitled, “Long-term Effects of High-fat Diet and Light Deprivation in Adolescent Rats,” will attempt to answer an unknown question in the fields of psychology, nutrition and neuroscience: do eating and sleeping habits during adolescence have long-lasting effects on memory into adulthood?

Glushchak plans to manipulate rats’ diet and ability to sleep during their adolescent periods. All rats will then have the same regular diet and sleep schedules throughout their young adult periods and when fully grown adults, they will be tested for different forms of learning and memory, and their brains will be analyzed. This research will shed light on how unhealthy habits during adolescence might be harmful into adulthood, even when behaviors become healthier.

Yandell & Students Publish Research Articles

Hope Buckner
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Yandell & Students Publish Research Articles

Dr. Lonnie Yandell, professor of psychology, recently had two research articles get published, which he co-authored with Belmont psychology majors. The articles are below:

  • Lang, J. & Yandell, L. R. (in press). Diversity language as system maintenance: Toward alternative frameworks for addressing racism at predominantly white institutions. Christian Higher Education: An International Journal of Research, Theory, and Practice.
  • Priest, R., & Yandell, L. (in press). Dyadic meta-accuracy and perceived motivational accuracy in academic work groups. Modern Psychological Studies.

Big Kenny, of Big & Rich, Speaks to Students on His Musical Career

Staff Writer
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Big Kenny, of Big & Rich, Speaks to Students on His Musical Career

On Friday, January 18, Belmont hosted a convocation featuring Big Kenny of country music duo Big & Rich. Kenny shared his journey to country music and advice for entering the music industry with students.

Kenny is a singer, songwriter, producer, musician and humanitarian who has co-written Tim McGraw’s “Last Dollar (Fly Away),” Gretchen Wilson’s “Here for the Party,” and Jason Aldean’s “Hicktown” and “Amarillo Sky.” He also wrote most of Big & Rich’s four studio albums.

Kenny shared that his music career began in a small church choir in a farm town in Virginia. He worked in construction and on his family’s farm throughout his early twenties, but soon realized he wanted to pursue a career in music.

With a dream and his toolbox in hand, just in case, Kenny packed his bags, locked his house in Virginia and headed to Nashville.

Within three months, he had a band together playing a few gigs a week, and within a year, he had a record deal and was on his way to a lifetime music career.

Kenny shared that everywhere he went and with everyone he met, he was inspired and blown away by talent. He said that any chance he had to meet someone, get in a door or play some music, he took the opportunity and ran with it.

Kenny reminisced on the days of The Music Mafia, a musically artistic group of friends in a music industry alliance. He shared that by getting together at venues to play and write together, these singer/songwriters didn’t have to clean up after themselves and they knew that no matter what happened in their careers, they had each other.

Multiple record deals and many concerts later, he met John Rich around the time he was leaving Lonestar, a country music band. By the end of that year, they had written 100 songs together.

“Some of the greatest things that happened to me, happened by mistake and propelled me to each step along the way,” he said.

Big Kenny

Kenny concluded by sharing with students that their minds can get them down or enlighten and open new opportunities.

“Decide in that moment to let it enlighten you and remember this conversation,” said Kenny. “You make the decision where you want to go.”

This event was moderated by Kate Cosontino.

 

Senior Psychology Student Honored with 2019 Psi Chi Eastern Psychological Association Regional Research Award

Hope Buckner
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Senior Psychology Student Honored with 2019 Psi Chi Eastern Psychological Association Regional Research Award

Eason Taylor, a senior psychology major, was awarded a 2019 Psi Chi Eastern Psychological Association Regional Research Award for the study “Examining the Effects of Exercise on Frustration-induced Anxiety-like Behavior in Rats.” This study, conducted under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Timothy Schoenfeld, assistant professor of psychology as part of Belmont’s Summer Scholars program, sought to examine how exercise reduces anxious behavior and stress hormones in rats following experimentally-induced frustration. 

Eason will receive a $400 cash award and will be publicly recognized at the Psi Chi Awards Ceremony at the Eastern Psychological Association conference in New York City February 28 – March 2.

Alumni Represented on MusicRow’s Top 100 Songwriters List

Staff Writer
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Alumni Represented on MusicRow’s Top 100 Songwriters List

In a recent list put out by MusicRow, the top 100 songwriters of 2018 were named. Of the 100 listed, several Belmont alumni are featured. Those listed included graduates of Belmont’s songwriting and music business programs, among others.

Coming in at number four on the list is Ashley Gorley, a 1999 Belmont alum who has been a noted songwriter for several years. Gorley recently won the ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year award for the sixth time.

The list also includes alumni such as the singer-songwriter duo of Florida Georgia Line, Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley. Other alumni who made the top 100 list are Nicolle Galyon, Hillary Lindsey, Jordan Reynolds, Russell Dickerson, Casey Brown, Parker Welling, Justin Wilson, Ryan Hurd, Justin Ebach and Jacob Durrett.

Devin Dawson speaks at seminar to Belmont students.
Devin Dawson speaks to Belmont students.

Graduates of Belmont’s songwriting program on the list include CJ Solar and Devin Dawson.

MusicRow’s Top 100 songwriters list was made based on a song’s airplay, digital downloaded track sales and streams. They also looked at songwriters who were featured on MusicRow’s top songwriters chart.

Filmmaker Encourages Students to Live Out Their Faith

Staff Writer
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Filmmaker Encourages Students to Live Out Their Faith

Andy Erwin and his brother, Jon Erwin, are the directors of the movie “I Can Only Imagine,” one of the top grossing biopics of all time. But their journey to that position was not easy, Erwin shared with students on Belmont’s campus recently. Through sharing his story, Erwin hopes to encourage students to live out their faith through what God is calling them to do.

After almost choosing a different career path and becoming a missionary, Erwin was encouraged by a friend to see how he could use his talents with a video camera. He and his brother started a production company and came to Nashville where they were hired by Michael W. Smith to make a music video. The brothers were successful in the music video industry allowing them to pursue film further.

But their new path into the movie industry was not easy and brought about a lot of struggles and some failures. But when speaking to students, Erwin encouraged them to see the “importance of failures in finding your voice and your success.” “I’ve found more in my failures and by embracing the struggle.”

Moving past their struggle and continuing to focus on what God could do through their films, the Erwin brothers found success in their newest film “I Can Only Imagine.” The film focuses on the story behind MercyMe’s song of the same name.

“This film allowed a message of hope to spread naturally,” said Erwin. “We tell stories that are not an exclusion to the audience but an invitation.”

Erwin closed his talk to students by encouraging them to live out their faith as well as remember that “failures don’t kill you and successes don’t define you.”

College of Law Alumna Honored by Nashville Bar Journal

Hope Buckner
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College of Law Alumna Honored by Nashville Bar Journal

Lauren Poole, a Belmont College of Law alumna and associate attorney at Taylor, Pigue, Marchetti and Blair PLLC (tpmbLAW), received the 2018 Nashville Bar Journal Contributor of the Year Award at the Annual Meeting and Banquet in December.

The award recognizes a Nashville Bar Journal committee member who went beyond the call of duty to ensure the success of the publication. Poole, who was recently named co chair of the Nashville Bar Journal Editorial Committee, practices civil litigation including bankruptcy and creditors’ rights at tpmbLAW.

“Going above and beyond the expected is how Lauren works,” said Gino Marchetti, Jr., attorney and managing member at tpmbLAW. “This award is a reflection of her commitment to the law and to the dedication she brings to her legal work, both for our clients and our profession. We are pleased to see her honored in this way.”

Poole earned a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in Studio Art from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She earned her J.D. from Belmont University College of Law in 2016. An active supporter of the arts, she currently serves on the Board of Turnip Green Creative Reuse. She has also been published regularly. Her editorial, “An Overview of the CFPB: Past, Present, and Future,” was published in the Nashville Bar Journal’s June/July 2018 Issue. Her article, “The Nuts & Bolts of Bankruptcy Law,” was featured as the Nashville Bar Journal Online Article of the Month in March 2018.

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